Made in China Guitars...

[KeeperOS]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

Of course high end guitars can be built in China and if they were going to do so, they'd probably be a much better than a similarly priced USA made one. After all a good guitar is all about good luthiery and good materials and parts.

What makes low-end mass produced guitars better suited to Chinese manufacture as opposed to more high end stuff is the buyer's perception.

Everyone still believes that Made in USA automatically means a better guitar than Made in China and if one is going to shell out more than 1000$ (or € or whatever) for a guitar he is bound to be a bit of a country-of-origin snob (a huge mistake IMHO mind you...).

 

[uOpt]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

Of course high end guitars can be built in China and if they were going to do so, they'd probably be a much better than a similarly priced USA made one. After all a good guitar is all about good luthiery and good materials and parts.

What makes low-end mass produced guitars better suited to Chinese manufacture as opposed to more high end stuff is the buyer's perception.

Everyone still believes that Made in USA automatically means a better guitar than Made in China and if one is going to shell out more than 1000$ (or € or whatever) for a guitar he is bound to be a bit of a country-of-origin snob (a huge mistake IMHO mind you...).

Companies who manufacture in China will also take steps to lower cost that go off the quality. Because even if you didn't nobody would believe it or care.

Sure you won't see American style sloppy fretwork or improperly cured nitro. But the invisible things like wood and hardware quality, and how much you are will to refill holes in body wood will make a difference.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I have one Epi Bass made in Korea and it's plays and sounds great!

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

The first Chinese guitars I remember playing were Epiphone Les Pauls, and most of them were kind of rough around the edges. Their weights were kind of all over the place, the bindings and fretwork were rough, and the inlays tended to look sloppy.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and they'd improved quite a bit. Most of them were light and resonant, and the cosmetics were much better. I think they're good enough now that the C-word is no longer a liability in my mind.

I have a Chinese Squier Stagemaster that I've hacked up beyond recognition. After replacing tuners, pickups, and electronics (and doing some other, more unsavory things), it's definitely a player. I used an awl to scratch a message on the back in honor of blueman335. I'd go to war with it.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

The first Chinese guitars I remember playing were Epiphone Les Pauls, and most of them were kind of rough around the edges. Their weights were kind of all over the place, the bindings and fretwork were rough, and the inlays tended to look sloppy.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and they'd improved quite a bit. Most of them were light and resonant, and the cosmetics were much better. I think they're good enough now that the C-word is no longer a liability in my mind.

I have a Chinese Squier Stagemaster that I've hacked up beyond recognition. After replacing tuners, pickups, and electronics (and doing some other, more unsavory things), it's definitely a player. I used an awl to scratch a message on the back in honor of blueman335. I'd go to war with it.

I noticed a Big increase in quality and consistancy when epi built thier own factory over there. I have an Epi Lp that is a great Lp

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

The best playing made in china guitars I have ever played are the Ibanez Artcores and the Squier Classic Vibes.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

Everyone still believes that Made in USA automatically means a better guitar than Made in China and if one is going to shell out more than 1000$ (or € or whatever) for a guitar he is bound to be a bit of a country-of-origin snob (a huge mistake IMHO mind you...).

I wouldn't call it a mistake, per se. If someone's happier and more confident playing a guitar involving a certain brand, wood, country of origin, etc., there's no reason for them not to do it.

On the other hand, if they pride themselves on being bargain hunters and don't see the value in whatever placebo effects those kinds of characteristics might bring into play, regardless of how good or bad any of the guitars might actually be, then they're missing out.

I like it both ways. I like to be a snob about my expensive Japanese and American guitars (because they're great), and I like to play the hell out of my $299 Epiphone (because it's great).

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

+1, ESP has almost ruined their reputation with the Indonesia/China LTD's. The early Korean made versions and the higher end LTD's that are still made in Korea are really good guitars. I have an EC100, one of the bottom line jobs from when LTD was first started (96, 97? Can't remember), but it smokes the mid level crap they're putting out now. Mine has a mahogany neck & body, it's a bolt on, but it's still a mahogany neck.

I don't own any Chinese guitars, mostly because I'll buy something better used before I would stoop to that level, but if I was buying new I would much rather keep my money in the states.

That explains the Korean-made LTD M-100 that I bought in 97 or 98. It was an entry-level instrument back then, but even the licensed Floyd on the thing has held up well over time.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I have a Chinese Squier Stagemaster that I've hacked up beyond recognition. After replacing tuners, pickups, and electronics (and doing some other, more unsavory things), it's definitely a player. I used an awl to scratch a message on the back in honor of blueman335.

And what might that message be...

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I had an Agile 2500 LP goldtop and it played as well as my 93 USA Les Paul Std.

The neck profile could have been a bit more rounded (felt kinda lumpy in places) and the fret ends could been dressed better (a few sharp ends here and there) but it had the weight, the fretboard radius, fret size, and paint quality matched.

China is known for crappy quality because for a time they flooded the market (every market) with whatever they could turn out - radios, tvs, cars, motorcycles, etc etc. They didn't last long but were cheap, so you just ran out and bought another, then another, then another.

They've finally taken some pride in what they make and strived to make quality rather than quantity, and they're giving USA makers a run for their money.

One thing I've always wondered about is those Chinese Les Paul fakes - are they good quality ripoffs or junk?

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

My Ibanez Artcore is a tank. Had her for 10 years, its beaten, broken, cracked top, pickup/output fell out (can't p.a it anymore!) and she still sounds sweet - though kinda difficult to play!

 

[jbear]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I went out for a semi one week. I played guitars for days from about $1900-$3300. During an idle moment I picked up an Ibanez AS103...that's the one I came home with. I've never been to China, but I've worked with people from there. Some love it, some don't...just like every other country in the world. We aren't perfect by a long shot, and while I appreciate what we have in this country...I didn't make a conscious choice to be born here...it just happened. I evaluate guitars based upon how they feel and how they sound...period.
To be fair, I did change out the PUPs recently, but that's just because I love Duncan 59's...I do that to a lot of guitars...Fender's...Gibson's...doesn't matter...I just dig those PUP's.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

Companies who manufacture in China will also take steps to lower cost that go off the quality.

I know how things stand, more or less. What I meant is that they could potentially do better and added that they simply won't bother because

Because even if you didn't nobody would believe it or care.

@ Jessie's ghost: I know one can be a guitar snob and still wind up with great gear. I simply meant that by being a snob, one can potentially miss out on a guitar that would be better suited for his needs or even a flat-out better guitar than the rest offered in his target budget...

 

[kherman]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

My '03 Fernandes is built rock solid.

MIC made.

Then in '04 they switched to the Samick Korean factory.
I've heard lots of complaints about the '04s.
They don't even compare to my '03.
MIC serial will start with FG.
MIK will start with FSG.

They then switched back to MIC.
But, since have switched again. Not sure where to.

Either way.
My Ravelle is a keeper.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I've seen quality of Chinese guitars, especially Epiphone, rise dramatically over the years.

A few months back on a whim, I played every lefty Les Paul in the Vancouver L&M. This included Gibson Historics, Standards, Studios, and several models of Epiphone.

Which one did I like the most? An Epi Les Paul Custom. It was the most lively, resonant, well put together LP they had.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

Koreas as low as I go for set necks . For a simple Tele, the CV's are probably pretty fair. I wouldn't try a Chinese Strat.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I get the feeling that if the Chinese manufacturers are building for a US or European parent company, there is some degree of 'overseeing' and guidance about materials, construction and the general issues the western consumers want from the products, and that results in some very high-quality stuff. Conversely, I can't help thinking that the manufacturers who are not aligned in any way with western brands may be the ones who turn out the very cheap and usually hit-or-miss products. I don't have any facts to back this up, it's just my own thoughts and observations.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

And what might that message be...

You didn't see this the first time I posted it? Was I on your Ignore List?

 

[devastone]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

I've got an Ibanez ART500 Made in China. Very good quality and great details. I love it to death. I swapped the IBZ low Z pickups for LW-Must. It sounds killer.
I call this guitar my Ibanez Les Paul.

I'm thinking about trying one of those, can't swing a US LP right now, and those look better than the Epis I've seen.

 

[crguti]

Re: Made in China Guitars...

^ try one. It weight much less than a Les Paul but still have some weight, and it sounds equal or even better. Changing the pickups makes a huge difference btw.
Sometimes I spend hours just looking this guitar... it's so beautiful, there's so much detail in this guitar. The pickup rings, the knobs and the piece that cover the truss rod are made of wood. Set-neck construction that gives a nice sustain. I love it.